Season preview: Picked to reach new heights, Elon embraces expectations in men’s basketball

Lucas Troutman is one of four seniors who have helped build the Elon men's basketball team in to an expected contender for an NCAA Tournament berth.

Sam Roberts / Times-News

By Adam Smith / Times-News

Published: Friday, November 8, 2013 at 01:03 AM.

ELON — Of all the signs and foreshadowing that have declared this men’s basketball season as one of exceedingly special potential for Elon, there was the soundtrack that accompanied the spotlighted entrance of the team’s coaches at last month’s Late Night with the Phoenix event.

The NCAA Tournament’s signature song, “One Shining Moment,” was the choice, announcing at once both the hopeful destination for the journey that awaits and Elon’s embracing-expectations navigational approach for getting there.

Put simply, the time is now.

And there’s no holding back.

“We’re going for it,” guard Sebastian Koch said. “That’s our mindset. We’ve been working hard for years now and we want this to be the best season we’ve ever had.”

That belief seems fully possible, with four three-year starters returning — seniors Lucas Troutman, Jack Isenbarger, Ryley Beaumont and Koch — and 10 of the top 11 scorers back from last season’s breakthrough 21-win team that claimed a division title in the Southern Conference and reached the postseason (CollegeInsider.com Tournament).

The Phoenix has improved its victory total in each of coach Matt Matheny’s four seasons, a building process that has supplied loads of experience along the way while Troutman, Isenbarger, Beaumont and Koch have played in a combined 375 games and evolved into leaders of the program.

As this season dawns, it’s Elon, not perennial kingpin Davidson, that’s picked to emerge in March as the Southern Conference champion — predictions that span from official league-wide polls to glossy preview magazines to mid-major websites.

“I like it,” Beaumont said. “You’ve got to rise to the occasion, because this is an honor. This is something that hasn’t ever happened to Elon. It’s something that we’ve worked really hard to get to happen.”

The 6-foot-10 Troutman became a go-to scorer and finished as the runner-up for Player of the Year in the league last season. He ranked fifth in the conference in scoring (15.1 points per game), second in field goal accuracy (54.6 percent) and first in blocked shots (2.1 per game).

At the other forward position, the 6-7 Beaumont led Elon in rebounding (7.1 per game) last season while adding 11.8 points per game and establishing the team’s standards for relentlessness and accountability.

Isenbarger, one of the league’s standout guards for years, has averaged double-digit scoring since he was a freshman. He delivered 13.2 points per game last season and finished second in the conference in successful 3-pointers (82) and free throw percentage (86.5).

Koch’s long-range shooting and 6-8 length on the perimeter long have been assets. Sophomore guard Tanner Samson gives the Phoenix another dangerous bomber from deep.

Austin Hamilton, a junior, is back directing traffic at point guard following surgery for a knee injury that pulled the plug on last season after 16 games.

Freshman Luke Eddy can provide depth at point guard and 6-7 freshman Christian Hairston looks like a budding athlete on the wing.

Egheosa Edomwonyi, a senior, junior Ryan Winters, sophomore Tony Sabato and freshman Brian Dawkins are reserve forwards who are 6-7 or taller and fill out extensive rotation options for Matheny.

“We’re going to be deeper this year than we’ve ever been in the past,” Matheny said.

That is, when everybody’s healthy.

The plastic facemask Troutman is wearing to protect a broken nose has come to symbolize what has been a banged-up preseason for Elon.

Isenbarger had yet to practice as of earlier this week due to a stress reaction in his right foot, though he’s shooting and exercising and expected to return soon. Winters (knee) is several weeks away from practicing while the status of Edomwonyi (knee), who’s noticeably hobbled lately, is uncertain.

“I really thought coming into October we would be able to just fly and install everything,” Matheny said. “Instead of flying, we’ve had to say, ‘let’s wait a second.’ But it’s been good for us, though, because we’ve been teaching in very basic principles. Our freshmen have benefitted from slowing things down.”

Meanwhile, Matheny and Elon’s coaching staff repeatedly have emphasized the exciting aspects of the rise that has delivered the Phoenix to this point and the greater opportunity ahead this season.

“We want to enjoy this,” Matheny said, “because what happens with expectation and pressure is you tend not to have as much fun. We want to play to win and we want to have fun. Let’s go for it.”

ELON — Of all the signs and foreshadowing that have declared this men’s basketball season as one of exceedingly special potential for Elon, there was the soundtrack that accompanied the spotlighted entrance of the team’s coaches at last month’s Late Night with the Phoenix event.

The NCAA Tournament’s signature song, “One Shining Moment,” was the choice, announcing at once both the hopeful destination for the journey that awaits and Elon’s embracing-expectations navigational approach for getting there.

Put simply, the time is now.

And there’s no holding back.

“We’re going for it,” guard Sebastian Koch said. “That’s our mindset. We’ve been working hard for years now and we want this to be the best season we’ve ever had.”

That belief seems fully possible, with four three-year starters returning — seniors Lucas Troutman, Jack Isenbarger, Ryley Beaumont and Koch — and 10 of the top 11 scorers back from last season’s breakthrough 21-win team that claimed a division title in the Southern Conference and reached the postseason (CollegeInsider.com Tournament).

The Phoenix has improved its victory total in each of coach Matt Matheny’s four seasons, a building process that has supplied loads of experience along the way while Troutman, Isenbarger, Beaumont and Koch have played in a combined 375 games and evolved into leaders of the program.

As this season dawns, it’s Elon, not perennial kingpin Davidson, that’s picked to emerge in March as the Southern Conference champion — predictions that span from official league-wide polls to glossy preview magazines to mid-major websites.

“I like it,” Beaumont said. “You’ve got to rise to the occasion, because this is an honor. This is something that hasn’t ever happened to Elon. It’s something that we’ve worked really hard to get to happen.”

The 6-foot-10 Troutman became a go-to scorer and finished as the runner-up for Player of the Year in the league last season. He ranked fifth in the conference in scoring (15.1 points per game), second in field goal accuracy (54.6 percent) and first in blocked shots (2.1 per game).

At the other forward position, the 6-7 Beaumont led Elon in rebounding (7.1 per game) last season while adding 11.8 points per game and establishing the team’s standards for relentlessness and accountability.

Isenbarger, one of the league’s standout guards for years, has averaged double-digit scoring since he was a freshman. He delivered 13.2 points per game last season and finished second in the conference in successful 3-pointers (82) and free throw percentage (86.5).

Koch’s long-range shooting and 6-8 length on the perimeter long have been assets. Sophomore guard Tanner Samson gives the Phoenix another dangerous bomber from deep.

Austin Hamilton, a junior, is back directing traffic at point guard following surgery for a knee injury that pulled the plug on last season after 16 games.

Freshman Luke Eddy can provide depth at point guard and 6-7 freshman Christian Hairston looks like a budding athlete on the wing.

Egheosa Edomwonyi, a senior, junior Ryan Winters, sophomore Tony Sabato and freshman Brian Dawkins are reserve forwards who are 6-7 or taller and fill out extensive rotation options for Matheny.

“We’re going to be deeper this year than we’ve ever been in the past,” Matheny said.

That is, when everybody’s healthy.

The plastic facemask Troutman is wearing to protect a broken nose has come to symbolize what has been a banged-up preseason for Elon.

Isenbarger had yet to practice as of earlier this week due to a stress reaction in his right foot, though he’s shooting and exercising and expected to return soon. Winters (knee) is several weeks away from practicing while the status of Edomwonyi (knee), who’s noticeably hobbled lately, is uncertain.

“I really thought coming into October we would be able to just fly and install everything,” Matheny said. “Instead of flying, we’ve had to say, ‘let’s wait a second.’ But it’s been good for us, though, because we’ve been teaching in very basic principles. Our freshmen have benefitted from slowing things down.”

Meanwhile, Matheny and Elon’s coaching staff repeatedly have emphasized the exciting aspects of the rise that has delivered the Phoenix to this point and the greater opportunity ahead this season.

“We want to enjoy this,” Matheny said, “because what happens with expectation and pressure is you tend not to have as much fun. We want to play to win and we want to have fun. Let’s go for it.”